8 Museums to Explore in Isle of Wight

Checkout places to visit in Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is a ceremonial county and the largest and second-most populous island in England. It is in the English Channel, between two and five miles off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. The island has resorts that have been holiday destinations since Victorian times and is known for its mild climate, coastal scenery, and verdant landscape of fields, downland, and chines. The island is part of the historic county of Hampshire. It is designated a UNESCO Bi

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Museums to Explore in Isle of Wight

Brading Roman Villa

Brading Roman Villa is one of the finest Roman sites in the UK. The award winning Visitor Centre and Museum offers a unique insight into Roman life in Britain from beautifully preserved mosaic floors to an extensive collection of Roman archaeology. Behind the site is a small amphitheatre made from grassy banks. This was recently made from spoil from the building work.

Carisbrooke Castle Museum

Carisbrooke Castle Museum is the only public museum in the UK founded by a member of the Royal family and is an accredited local history museum run by an independent Charitable Trust. It was founded as a memorial to Princess Beatrice’s husband, Prince Henry of Battenberg, who had died during the Ashanti campaign in 1896 and it holds many important collections that is connected with the history of the Isle of Wight, including social history, medieval history and so more.

Classic Boat Museum Gallery

The Classic Boat Museum has been telling visitors and Islanders its wonderful maritime story since 1996. It has an extensive collection of artifacts, models, photographs, and uniforms. It is located on the Isle of Wight at two separate sites on either side of the River Medina; The Boat Collection in Cowes, and The Gallery in East Cowes.

Dimbola Museum & Galleries

Dimbola was the home of the celebrated Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. It is now a museum and galleries dedicated to her life and work, which also showcases contemporary exhibitions from photographers around the globe. The gallery hosts an annual programme of exhibitions on contemporary photography and art, as well as a permanent display on the history of the Isle of Wight music festival including original memorabilia.

Dinosaur Isle

Dinosaur Isle is Britain's first purpose built dinosaur museum and visitor attraction; based in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. The visit to the museum begins with a presentation of the different past ecosystems that can be found in different parts of the island. This area begins with Pleistocene fossils, including those of Bison antiquus. The repaired animatronic of an Ophthalmosaurus from the BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs is also in this section.

The Isle of Wight Bus Museum

An impressive collection of Island buses and coaches dating from 1927 to more recent examples are housed here. There are over 20 vehicles on display. These include a 20 seater Dennis Ace bus, beautifully restored to as new 1934 condition, which worked the Ryde - Alum Bay Coastal Route pre-war. The museum hosts two bus rallies of its own. There is one event in May, running day.

The National Poo Museum

The National Poo Museum was created by Daniel Roberts, Nigel George, and Dave Badman from the Eccleston George collective of artists and social entrepreneurs on the Isle of Wight. It features an exhibition of twenty kinds of poo, encapsulated and displayed in illuminated resin spheres. These include elk, lion, human baby poo, a tawny owl pellet containing bones and teeth, 140 million-year-old fossil poo, and a child’s shoe with a cat poo inside it.

Wight Military And Heritage Museum

The Wight Military and Heritage Museum is located in Cowes. The museum holds an interesting mix of tanks, artifacts, other vehicles, small arms and a range of uniforms from the 1940's to the present day. One of the iconic attractions in this area and attracts a lot of tourists.

Map of Museums to explore in Isle of Wight